Simple thing – Simple post.

 

Have you listened to this song, anytime ???? I think many of you would have listened to the hindi version.  It lists all the simple things which brings in so much pleasure and smiles !!! 

(My simple translation in blue )

Chinna china asai…siragadikkum asai   The small wishes that is ready to flutter the wings
Muthu muthu asai ..mudinthu vaitha asai  Those wishes that have been tied inside
Vennilavu thottu muthamida asai  Just wish to touch the white moon and kiss it
Ennai intha bhoomi sutri vara asai  I wish that the earth goes around me

Malligai poovai… maari vida asai  I wish to change into a jasmine flower
Thendralai kandu maalai ida aasai  I wish to find and garland that gentle breeze
Meganagalai ellam, thottu vida asai I wish to touch all those clouds
Sogangalai ellam vittu vida asai I wish to leave all those sadness
Kaar kuzhalil ulagai katti vida asai  And I wish to tie this world with my jet black hair.

Chinna china asai…siragadikkum asai
Muthu muthu asai ..mudinthu vaitha asai
Vennilavu thottu muthamida asai
Ennai intha bhoomi sutri vara asai

Setru vayaladi natru nada asai  I wish to play in the marshy fields and plant those saplings
Meen pidithu mendum aatril vida asai  I wish to catch the fishes and leave them back in the river
Vaanavillai konjam uduthi kola asai  I wish to wear the rainbow
Pani thulikul naanum paduthu kolla asai  I wish to sleep inside the dew drop

The picturisation is fantastic and ARR became a big hit with this movie ROJA !!! I just love this song !!!

This is the song, I humm while I walk in the evenings !!!

While singing this song in my mind, I see the sky painted in shades of red, orange, blue, grey !!! What a riot of colours during sunset !! Its indeed one of the best snap shots of nature. I feel so good walking watching the myriad of colours in the sky.  And those lovely birds chirping and going back to their nest  -  all in all, its a sight to treasure and hold it close to the heart.

The view from my balcony is something fantastic and I just love to sit there in solitude with a cup of tea in my hand !!!  And the newspaper with all my favourite coloumns is certainly a great accompaniment.  Here’s the treat I got from Nature, for getting up early morning, last weekend. And I made sure to capture those fantastic moments in my camera. The whole day was beautiful, fantastic after this visual treat from the Sun God !!!!

 

Its only the simple things, that matter.

Its only the simple things that are beautiful.

Enjoy them all and have a great day !!!

Rasam aka Amruth.

After being selected for the Blogadda’s Tangy Tuesday Pick, there is this insatiable thirst to get selected for the Spicy Saturday Pick.  But, don’t know when will that happen !!!!

That day of being selected into the Spicy Saturday Picks, will see the spicier and tangier minds in for a treat of great blogs, including mine.

Talking of Spicier and Tangier, makes me wonder about the counterpart in our cooking – the Tangy Spicy Rasam aka Amruth !!!!

No South Indian Meal is complete without the Rasam - a tangy and spicy preparation with tamarind, tomatoes, pepper, jeera and chillies.  While the basic ingredients are only this much, the variations are mind-boggling.

Everyday cooking is complete with the paruppu rasam, which involves adding cooked dhal towards the end of the dhal making process.

But for those days, when you want to avoid the using of dhal, here’s the jeera rasam !!!  Actually, today I made this jeera rasam, which is such a perfect balance to the tummy, when it is preparing itself for a feast towards the night !!!     And, it works the other way around too. When you are feel bloated and burpy, this is the perfect rasam for you, to make you feel better.  You can actually drink it !!!!  This is what I equate to Amruth !!!

While talking about rasams, this one requires a special mention, for being the Queen of Rasams - the Mysore Rasam. Its a delicacy. The proportions have to be perfect, the tamarind at the right level, then there is nothing to beat the taste of this rasam. We reserve this rasam for special occasions at home.

If you are a garlic lover, like me, then you wouldn’t want to miss this delicious garlic rasam !!! You can choose between crushing a few cloves of garlic and adding to the tamarind water, while boiling.  Or you can use  full garlic cloves in whole pieces, added to the rasam.  My girls and S, love it when I put the garlic cloves, in full pieces, without crushing them. They love the taste of garlic, boiled in that tangy tamarind water.

Also, this dish gives you the flexibility of so many variations, that you can add or minus certain things, according to the requirements of your tongue, on that particular day.  After all, it’s the tongue that decides what goes into the stomach !!!

 

All that talking cannot be satisfied, without the basic recipes, right ???? So, here they are.

Common for all rasam recipes  : (Paruppu / Jeera / Mysore / Garlic)

Tamarind – Around the size of a small lemon. Soak it for 30 mins, crush and extract the juice.

Red Chilli powder – 1/2 tsp

Dhaniya powder – 1/2 tsp

Tomato – 1

Cooked toor dhal - 2 tbsp ( For Paruppu rasam and Mysore Rasam)

Now, boil the tamarind juice, with required amount of salt, chilli powder, dhaniya powder for a few minutes.

Add the tomatoes cut into small pieces or grind in a mixer and add the puree – Whatever you like.

Paruppu rasam – Add 1 tsp of crushed pepper + jeera powder and hing.  Add the dhal and a glass of water. Simmer the gas. Let it come to a boil.

Jeera rasam – Grind coarsely 1 tsp of soaked toor dhal + 1/2 tsp of pepper + 1/2 tsp of jeera + 1/2 tsp coriander seeds. Add this with a glass of water to the rasam. Simmer the gas. Let it come to a boil.

Mysore rasam – Fry in 1/2 tsp of oil – 1 tsp Chenna dhal, 1 tsp Coriander seeds, 4 red chillies, hing and a little bit of dry coconut. If dry coconut is not there, you can also use regular coconut. Grind all these to a powder. Add 2 tsp of this powder, then the cooked dhal and a glass of water. Simmer the gas. Let it come to a boil.

Garlic rasam – Add crushed garlic or peeled cloves of garlic. Let it be cooked well. Then add 2 tsp of crushed pepper + jeera powder and a glass of water. Simmer the gas. Let it come to a boil.

Lemon rasam – This is quite different. Take only half the tamarind mentioned above and make the juice quite watery. Add salt, turmeric powder, 3 slit green chillies and some finely chopped tomatoes and boil it for some time.  Then add the cooked dhal and a glass of water. Simmer the gas. Let it come to a boil. Add the juice of one lemon to compensate for the lessened tamarind. This is one of the delicious rasams invented by people, I tell you. Make it and drink it to believe it.

Use more black pepper if u like, but don’t boil the rasam for a long time, after adding the crushed pepper – This is a very important tip – decides the taste of the rasam.  Rasam might turn bitter, if allowed to boil for a long time.

Finally, do a mustard tadka in ghee, for a fantastic fragrant house and superb taste !!! Add chopped coriander, if you like !!!

Pl do try them all and I hope that the recipe is easy to understand.

Hot rice, with ghee and rasam is excellent on any given day !!! Please do not forget that Pappad, OK !!!!  Aloo fry is also a damn good combination.

So, do you agree that it’s indeed the Amruth, which is named as Rasam ???!!!!

Linguistic skills !!!

What’s your mother tongue ????

Hindi / Gujarati / Marati / Tamil / Telugu / Bengali / Malayalam / Kannada / Any other Indian language.

Are you fluent in your mother tongue ????

If yes, try speaking in your mother tongue for an hour or so, without using any other language words and especially no English words.

OMG !!!! I tried and it and I completely failed.  Because of so much English words finding their way into the Regional languages and because of the fact others too understand these small English words, it is becoming extremely difficult to converse in one single language.

And secondly, when I tried to talk purely in my mother tongue, ppl started giving me funny looks, including my maid. 

Now after staying in Hyd for some years, Telugu and Hindi words have found their way into my vocabulary. It’s strange that these words pop up in my mind now and not when I badly needed to converse with an Auto driver.

While I loved to shop in Nalli Silks in Hyd, for the need to converse in Tamil with someone, I am searching ppl in Chennai to converse in Hindi !!!  I’ve actually found a lot of ppl, who make life easier for the Hindi speaking crowd in Chennai.  Thats the irony of the human mind – it wants what is not available.

 

From forced English conversations at school to a state where English words are considered to be part of the Tamil vocabulary, it’s an amazing journey.  If my Tamil teacher is here to listen to my language skills today, I am sure that she’ll want to wrangle me.

So, how skilled a linguist are you ????? Do you converse in the pure form of you mother tongue or use English words liberally in-between ???

The SCHOOL !!!

I had a friend’s friend call me recently, to find out about the school in which my daughter studies.  She happens to live in the same area as mine and was quite interested in knowing about this school, to which my daughters go to.  She was contemplating on a school for her kid, who is to join Kinder Garden this year. And, here goes the conversation.

She : Are you happy with the school ????

Me : Absolutely.  Otherwise, I would’ve changed the school. 

She : But, I heard that it is very much into studies. Is it true ???

Me : What do you want a school to do ??? Make your kids study, right ????

She : But, I don’t want them studying all the time.  I want the school to make my child take part in all the extra-curricular activities, too.  I dont want more number of working days and I sure want the fees within my reach, too.

Me : So, you want a school, which makes your child study (read study as extremely well), be highly disciplined, play all kinds of sports, take part in singing, dancing, painting and any such competitions and be an all-rounder – all the while satisfying the other two important criteria, right ???

She : Yeah, something like that.

Me : (thinking to myself) Then whats your role as a Mother ????

The conversation went on like that for some more time, before I cut the line.  I couldn’t take it anymore.

Yes, I agree that the school my daughters go to is academically oriented. I am very happy. Let the school do that job perfectly. If they fail in the basic teaching methodologies, then I don’t have any other option, other than to shift the school.  I am extremely satisfied that the teachers take extra interest in the student’s studies and ask them to stay back after school hours for some time to clear any doubts.  I am happy that they make sure the concepts are understood properly.  When the teachers are being so supportive, I don’t have any reason to worry.

Some ppl tell me that this kind of academic oriented schools pressurize the kids too much. They’ve exams, class tests, assignments, debates, presentations and many more to plan and work for.   Yes, there are a lot of exams and tests.  But, I feel that if I am being supportive of my children, I can ease the pressure on them.  I help my daughter in collecting the info, from which she consolidates for her project. I help her out in whatever way I can – this makes her understand that I am with her always.  And never do I put in the condition, that she needs to score above 90% or 95%.  I keep telling her to understand the concepts and do her best.

And when I go for the parent-teacher meetings, I ask only one question to the teacher – Does she behave well in the class.  Marks can come and go and might not be important to her in the long run towards her ambition, but I want her to be a good human being, sensitive to the ppl around her.

I am quite happy at the way the school encourages extra-curricular activities.  The School takes extra interest in sending the children for Inter-school competitions, conducts debates and essay writing competitions regularly to improve the ability to put across your thoughts in a positive way. 

But, if I think that it is not good enough for my daughter, I can always enroll her in some weekend classes to make her learn music / dance / instrument or anything she wants.  And sometimes, the interest should come from the kids too.

When I shifted from Hyd to Chennai, no school was willing to admit my girls in the middle of the academic year. Every school assured me of a seat in the next academic year and we were not willing to stay in Hyd, while S was already in Chennai.  This school, the branch of the school my daughters study in Hyd, was the only willing school to give admission to both my daughters.  For ppl like me, who shift places, quite often, any school that satisfies the basic criteria of education will do.  And I am extremely happy with the school’s way of functioning and teaching methodologies.

My take on a particular school is not be the same like other parents.  I might like the school for some particular reasons and might be pleased with my expectations being satisfied.  But for other parents, it will be a differnet scenario.  The school could have failed miserably in satisfying some other parent.  So, whats your take on the school scenario ????

And now, my daughters want to learn the Guitar.  I am on the hunt for a good teacher. Wish me luck. 

Hot water Luxury!!!

Damn !!! This Power Cut !!!! Why should the power go now ???? Its 8am in the morning and I need to get ready.  Water is quite chill during mornings, now. 

OH !! God !!! What to do ???  I can’t use the Water Geyser, now !!!!  

After venting out quite a bit about the electricity department, their inefficient ways of functioning, non-intimation of the timings of power cuts and so many related things, I felt much better. 

Then came the realisation that the time is flying and I need hot water. So, I fill up a vessel with water and put it on the gas stove. While the water was heating, my mind went on a nostalgic journey, back in time. 

I very well remember the winter vacations spent in my maternal grandfather’s house. Because of so much open space around, the chillness was quite high those days, compared to now.  And there were about 10 ppl in the house, including me and we all need hot water for a bath.  Its actually a difficult job and will be allotted to everyone in the family in turns.  Why is this job difficult ??? 

Just have a look at this picture.  

We’ve to light a fire of logs and fill in the big copper pot and keep it on this fire stove.  After the water is heated, take out the required hot water onto a bucket and fill in the pot again.  All the while, have an eye on the fire.  It might get off, if water spills while pouring into the pot.  And my grandfather was very particular on how we ignite the fire, maintain the same amount of heat without wasting a lot of fuel ie. logs of wood.  And not to forget the burning of eyes, due to the smoke.  In the end of all this turmoil, the hot water was indeed a luxury. 

It was an entirely different scenario in my paternal grandfather’s house, which is mine, too. We all stayed together. And this is what we used for heating water during the cold winter days. 

 

  

 As you can see, there is a cup like thing on top of this boiler.  Its actually the entrance to the cylindrical pipe, into which we need to put in the fuel for fire.  Water is filled around this cylindrical pipe and after heating, the tap is used to take the hot water.  The main fuel used for boiling water was cow dung cakes and sticks and broken branches.  Actually we knew of a carpenter, my grandfather’s friend, who will send home all the wooden waste he has in his workshop.  My grandfather will sit on a wooden stool, next to this boiler and supervise the entire show of filling cold water and taking hot water.  His main job was to put in the cow dung cakes, when required into the cylindrical pipe. 

This was also no less difficult than the previous one. Burning of eyes due to smoke was there in this too.  The ashes need to be cleaned periodically from the base of the cylindrical pipe.  Otherwise, the fire won’t be enough to heat the water.  At the end of the copper water boiler, hot water was indeed a luxury. 

BTW, I want to ask you all, have you had a bath with the water from a hand-drawn well ????? 

 

  

If you’ve not, you’ve missed some wonderful thing in life. We had a well in the backyard of our house and believe me, that it will get filled to the brim during rainy season.  You can take water from it, like a bucket !!! It was the most wonderful thing to do.  The most interesting thing is, during summers the water is chill and refreshing, to cool ourselves.  And during winters, its quite warm and nice.  Such is the beauty of nature !!!! 

And to have a bath out of the well, is indeed a luxury. 

The sudden noise from the TV brought me back to the present world. And suddenly I realise that the power has come and I hurriedly run to switch on the Geyser, to have that wonderful hot water bath. 

No logs of wood are used, no cowdung cakes either and neither did I draw water from the well. 

Isn’t this hot water from the Geyser a luxury, now ????!!

Local tidbits.

More than the destination, it’s the journey that excites me.

 

I’ve seen this quote so many times on my favourite Travel & Living Channel and often wondered about it.  But, it was an interesting journey of 30 minutes spent on the local train, that reminded me of this quote and made me understand the true meaning of it.

Last week, one day, I travelled by the local train for some personal work.  The moment I got into the train, I saw the train was empty and so, I was given the choice of choosing a seat of my priority.  And so I chose the window seat, which is my favourite.

At the next station, I saw lots of young girls get into the train. They are the early to work kinds. They’ve started working early in their life – all of them were in their post teens. Seeing them I was just transported to the years, when I had started working.  This is the age to be in college and study to make your passion a reality. But here are the girls working in some garment factory / hardware unit, trying to make a living.

Next station, saw the girls who were studying in technical / fashion institutes.  Those are the people who were working hard to realise the goal in life. They are working / studying towards their passion and I hope that they’ll realise their dream one day. I felt extremely happy to watch this lively group of youngsters for a few minutes, in which I travelled back in time to those days of unending joy with friends.

There is this Government run school at the next station and so, I was suddenly surrounded by the chirpy little ones at the next station. Their non-stop chatter and giggling, snacking in the moving train reminded me that these girls were oblivious to the crowd around them. Just loved watching them all.

If there was something that I just couldn’t forget about this local journey, then it is this.  I saw these two young girls, probably in their early twenties, get on to the train at the next station.  First, I couldn’t hear their voices. I thought because of the non-stop chatter around me, I was not able to hear their voices. But, then I saw them sitting across my seat and then I realised with a bang – they were having a conversation in SIGN LANGUAGE. I felt bad – but only for a moment.  When I saw them having a wonderful conversation in the sign language they know, I was quite happy for them.  They have forgotten their handicap and are talking to each other like normal people. When I saw both of them laugh over some joke, I also laughed with them.

Through the whole journey, I saw a happy and lively crowd of people, getting on with their life, ambitions, goals, some studying, some working.  But, one thing was quite pre-dominant that day – I saw them all happy and the happiness influenced and inspire me.  I felt happy and the day was good.

Hope you all have a good day, too !!!!

Tummy khush ?????

BBBBuuuurrrrrppppp !!!!  Came the burp !!!! That was one delicious meal !!!  What a yummy onion sambar and aloo fry !!!! That rasam was no less !!! Simply delicious – it can be passed as Amruth from the Heavens !!!!  

I am khush, thinks the tummy !!!!  After such an elaborate meal, which tummy will not feel happy !!!!    

After 2 hrs of non-stop digestion:  

Its been 2 hours after lunch.  Why is this woman not taking any steps to fill me again, thinks tummy !!??!! Lets make some growling noises, so that She’ll start munching something.  Hope she eats, what I really want !!!!    

Oh !!! Ho  !!! I ate just 2 hrs back and see, my stomach has started growling. How did I digest so fast ???? Let me eat something. No, says the mind. Do you remember what Oprah told in one of the episodes – When you hear your stomach growling, don’t feed it !!! Then your body’s need for some energy will be taken from the fat deposits around your hips and thighs. Thats one easy way to reduce excess fat.   So, taking Oprah’s words seriously, I decide to drink a glass of water. WOW !! That’s good.  Stay away from junk food, I tell myself.  

Tummy is absolutely not happy with that glass of water. WWhhaattt ???? She gave me a glass of water, when I growled !!!! Maybe she has not understood, how loud I can be !!!!  And so here I go – GGGRRROOOOWWWLLLL !!!!!  

OMG !!!! What to eat now ???  It’s just 3 hrs after lunch.  OK !!! Let me munch on an apple.  So, I went to the kitchen and cut an apple and started eating that delicious fruit, which tempted even the Adam and Eve !!!!  Now, I hope that my stomach is happy !!!    

This WOMAN !!! Why is she not giving me, what I want ????? Who wants this diet-friendly apple ???? Come on, give me that – what I really like !!!!! So, here you go – Grrrooowwwwllllll !!!!!  

This tummy is really bothering me today !!! I feel there is a big rat inside eating away all that I eat and asking for more !!!  What else to eat now ????  OK. Let me make some hot tea and have that delicious something, which I bought yesterday. Even, I’ve been wanting to eat it, but was resisting the temptation.  

The hot ginger tea is ready.  Now, I open the snack box, a lovely big Tupperware, which is the house of snacks in my home.  

   

  

I take a cup full of the wonderful mixture from Grand Sweets and Snacks and 2 of the kai murukku.  Sipping the hot ginger tea, I plonk myself in the couch to enjoy my afternoon snacks.  

    

Idha, Idha, Idhathan naan edhirparthen**  says Tummy, all smiles looking at the cup of mixture !!!!  Why didn’t you take it earlier, woman ???? From yday, I am dying to eat this.  

    

Now, what happens to my diet, she fumes at herself. Can’t you resist the simple temptation to eat mixture ????  But she is also all smiles, as the diet gets thrown out of the window and the mixture enters the heavenly stomach fort.    

    

** This, This, This is what I expected – a dialogue from a famous coffee ad.  

   

Menstruating Discrimination

MENSTRUATION – This is a topic, I’ve wanted to write about for a long time, but never found the courage to write abt it.  I always tell myself, this is very personal and I should not cross lines.

But a recent incident, made me ponder on this issue and I just decided to get it out of my system.

I have a wonderful neighbour, M.  She is kind and quite helpful.  And we have a common maid-servant.  The maid finishes work at M’s house and then comes to mine. We’ve such an arrangement and so the timings are clear.

Last month, one day, the maid came to my home almost an hour earlier. I was totally surprised, as she sticks to time generally. So, I asked her whether M has gone out somewhere.

But the maid replied that since she is menstruating, she is not allowed into M’s house.  I was SHOCKED.  People follow such rules, even today ????? 

Then, my maid asked me, if its OK to work at my place, during her menstruation time.  I told her that as long as she feels physically well to do the work, she can do it.  If she wants to rest, then just go home.  My maid was quite happy at my response and she started doing the work.

Yes, long time back, they had this tradition of making the menstruating women, stay alone and away from household work. They were not allowed into the kitchen or puja room.  If you look into the do and don’ts from a Brahmin’s point of view, its just mindboggling and I’ve gone through most of them.

Those people’s only explanation is that the body needs its rest and we should listen to our body and take the required rest.

But, it was not put across correctly. Explanations were not clear.  And so, over a period of time, people started discriminating those women who menstruate.

Menstruation is a natural process, which every woman undergoes.  It goes on to say that the woman is healthy and happy.  So, why discriminate her ????

If God gave us this body and the menstruation along with it, they why discriminate the women during these physically uncomfortable times ????

If all she needs is rest, then why the Dont Touch Me syndrome ????? 

Even though I’ve gone through all these in my home and my grandparent’s home, I’ve decided not to follow all the stupid things, for my daughters.  I’ll give them all the rest they need, but never will they feel alone or left out, because they are menstruating.

Let us be  more sensitive to this issue and treat women for what they are. Lets not discriminate women based on a natural process called MENSTRUATION.

Who will be the Jake Sully of our WORLD ??????

Last week, at the Satyam Cinemas, I had the ticket to travel on a graphical yet magical journey, by the AVATAR, 3D.

While all the people around were giving different feedbacks and opinions for the movie, I sat stumped at the message which hit me.

Of course, the graphics is the best part.  The Navi tribe’s tall slender frame, the way they quietly navigate through the forests, the horses they ride, the gigantic six-legged Hippo, the flying lizards especially the Red Shadow, the floating mountains are just excellent depictions of graphics and made me watch the movie without blinking my eyes.

So, what did Jake Sully do in this movie, which is so remarkable and which captured my heart ?????

A tribe called Navi, on a distant planet fights the human invaders, to save their forest home is the crux of the James Cameron’s film Avatar.  Did this Navi people succeed in fighting their human enemies ????   Yes, they did, in essence telling the world that the power of Nature is more powerful than the Human power.

What is the message that hits me straight on the head, after watching this movie ?????

It is this – we humans have invaded many such places on this world, fighting Nature and the Tribes which live along with Nature.  But we are the force, who wants to fight Nature, destroy it and then complain that there is no greenery around, no water to drink, the climate has become more warmer and hold Conferences spending huge amounts of money without any result.

We, the humans, have exploited the land which are home to many Tribal races, many animals, some rare species of trees and plants and now we are making a hue and cry, when we faced with the after-effects of our illustrious fight with Nature.

Yes, the Government were all nodding their head in approval for this fight against nature, to mine, log wood, dig for oil and gas.  The companies doing such work, got all the support from the Government and the Military forces too, if required.

So, where did it all end ?????   The Tribal people were rendered homeless, their sacred places were gone for reasons of mining and logging.  The ecological balance of animals was lost and the animals started to enter the nearby villages for food.

Is this what we wanted to do ??????   Are we more powerful than the power of Nature to over come it at every given chance ?????

No and never !!!!!

I loved what James Cameron had tried to tell – Nature is far more powerful than Humans and it is best to leave it at peace.  Don’t invade the Tribal people and their sacred land.  If possible, learn from them on How to live with Nature without destroying it.

The wonderful Navi Home Tree, when burnt to destruction, is sure to bring a tear from your eyes.  The sacred tree of worship is also destroyed by those insensitive humans, which will surely make you angry at the outrageous actions by those Humans.

When I watched this movie, I can easily relate it with the present-day scenario in the world.  Read here, to know more about the Human invasion on Tribes all over the world.

Let this movie inspire the Human Race to live embracing the Nature and not by fighting against it.

So, who will be the Jake Sully of our World ????? We are in need of such a person to protect the Nature of this Planet Earth !!!!!

Please, go and watch this movie !!!! Its AWESOME !!!!

The gates to Heaven will open, BUT…

Sr : Knock !!! Knock !!!!!

Sh : Who is it ??????

As though there is a dozen ppl living in this house.  S never knocks, when he knows that his daughter is inside.  It’ll be either me or Sr.  And when I knock, I’ll always call out her name, while knocking.  It’s only Sr who knocks and waits.

Sr : Open the Door !!!! Now !!!!! I need something urgently !!!!!

Sh : What do you want now ????? I closed just 2 mins back.  If you are inside the room and I knock on the door, you never respond and neither you open.  Just imagine how hurt I felt.  Now, its ur turn. Wait.

The conversation is flowing without opening the door.

Sr : Knock !!!! Knock !!!!!

Sh : Maaaaaa !!!!! Look at her !!!!  Sr is not even allowing me to change !!!! Can’t she wait for just 5 mins ?????  Do you remember how much I waited outside the room the other day ?????

Ma is just neutral - She has learnt better not to take sides during such arguments and especially when they are leaving for school.  I try to keep up my cool with a great effort by doing Kapalabati Pranayama (the breathing exercise, which does wonders to your body) !!!!!  

Beauty bath and changing to their uniform, is the most important and only thing they do, before going to school everyday.  And so, the bathroom is occupied for long times.  Not only the bathroom, the bedroom too is gone for changing to their  uniform.  And My God, how much time these girls take, to just change into one dress ?????   And when one of them is inside, the other just cannot wait outside.  Exactly at that particular instant, the other one will remember of something and will knock the door down, till the other opens it !!!!!

So, dear God, when will my daughters learn to do things smart and fast ??????   And what’s this funda about closed doors ??????  

It looks like there is a LOC near the entrance to their room and a prior permission (VISA) is required for valid entry.  And I certainly don’t think that I’ll be given a VISA so easily !!!!   I may have to bribe her for that VISA. 

For them, closing the door of the bedroom and doing their STUFF, is the way to live.   And when all the cousins get together, its madness !!! All those teenagers are IN, but we, elders are all OUT of the room !!!!

I wonder what goes on behind the closed doors !!!!!  

Are they dancing ????? Singing ??????  Are they preparing for their exams ????? Why can’t they do it in front of me – after all, I am their Mother ??????  I think, I’ll enjoy those stints too !!!!

Dear God, I pray for the doors (to my girls’ room) to open !!!!!  

But God feels that is quite a difficult wish to grant me !!!! 

Instead God grants me this wish - The doors to Heaven will be open for YOU, BUT I can’t open those Doors, to your Girls’ Room !!!!!   

I guess that behind the doors to my daughters’ room lies my forbidden area  !!!!!!